Who Gives - Phil Walker

Who?

Phil Walker, 45

Where?

Eltham, Vic

What?

Volunteer Secretary/3 rd Lieutenant Research Fire Brigade

Why?

An IT professional by trade, Phil is one of more than 30 volunteer fire fighters who spend an average of five hours of their week committed to the Research Fire Brigade.

The brigade, which was formed in 1950 and is a volunteer arm of the Country Fire Authority, responds to at least two calls a week for a range of issues including locals who are burning off, car accidents, electrical hazards, rescues and home fires.

The Research Fire Brigade can be called to an emergency anywhere in or outside of the s tate, however its usual jurisdiction runs from Lilydale and the Dandenongs to Eltham. Occasionally they may be called to support the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in border areas.

Phil joined the brigade after reading an article in the local paper. He says he is motivated simply by the desire to “do something for the community”. H is wife, Christine, is also a volunteer fire fighter with the brigade.

Phil was one of the countless volunteer fire fighters and support crews that were at the coalface on Black Saturday 2009 . He was driving Tanker 2, which went out at about 4.30pm. They returned home late on Sunday morning after handing the tanker over to a relief crew from the brigade at Whittlesea .

Phil witnessed the devastation at Kinglake on that fateful February afternoon. “I don’t think I was on my own in feeling helpless,” he says. “Everything was gone in a matter of hours. We couldn’t do anything to save the houses that had gone. All we could do was support the people that were still there that didn’t have running water or electricity.”

He feels proud to have been able to support those in need during the fires. “You realise why you are there. A lot of your training comes in to use and you understand why you train for what you do,” he says.

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